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Students pick up responsibilities Recycling program aids community By PAUL FATTIG ROGUE RIVER -- Mike Sanders, a student once considered at-risk when it came to graduating from high school, has been recycled. The Rogue River High School senior is participating in the Alternative Choice Experience class, which allows at-risk students to operate a citywide recycling program. "It's a nice way to keep ourselves constructive while helping the community recycle," said Sanders, who has participated in the program for two years. "This is a good way of helping the community out. And it gives me responsibilities." The program got a boost Tuesday from the state Department of Environmental Quality, which announced that it was awarding a matching grant of $19,078 to continue the program for another two years. The grant is one of 20 awarded statewide by the DEQ to help communities promote solid waste management and reduction. The city and local organizations have also kicked in $21,460 for the project run by a dozen at-risk students. The program, which collects paper and metal cans to be recycled, was launched three years ago by community members. When the founders of the program went their separate ways, city planner Hope Warren stepped in. "I'm always looking for ways for youth to get involved in city business, to get out in the community in a positive way," she said. She contacted Beth Smith, a teacher in the Alternative Choice Experience program. "She talked to the kids -- they were all for it," Warren recalled. So was the city. "This program gives these students an opportunity to show the public another side of them," Warren said. "They're allowed to interact with the community on a positive note. "The students promote the program, organize events and go into elementary schools to talk about the program," she added. "The recycling work itself is important, but these kids need to be recycled as well. Many of them come from one-parent families or have trouble with the law." The program is working, said Joe Anderson, a teacher's aide in the program for the second year. He is also a senior majoring in biology at Southern Oregon University. "It's very positive for the students," he said. "In this community, there is pretty much a line between seniors and youth. This is a good interface." It's also good for the environment, he said, noting that the students gathered some 1,000 pounds of paper Tuesday for recycling. They gather about 1,500 pounds of paper each week, which is all separated and sorted, he said. "We are trying to educate the students on how reducing our use of natural resources helps the environment," he said. The lesson is sinking in, said Sanders, who helps pick recycled materials and participates in recycling fairs where locals can bring materials to be recycled. "This has made me think about the future, and ways we can help the environment," he said. The students will hold a recycling fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Valley of the Rogue Bank parking lot, 110 Pine St., Rogue River. Local residents are encouraged to drop off materials that can be recycled such as newspapers, magazines and tin and aluminum cans. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA